Poor old me. Tracy, Harry and Toby had a week of relaxation planned but I had to go to work! Across the week this is what they got up to.
Monday
The day was spent flip flopping between the beach and the pool after a brief trip into Coogee town centre. The boys had got a body board and a bucket and spade so they were well equipped for a week playing on the beach. In the afternoon Toby braved the sea for a short while and went on the body board with Harry assisting him. In the evening after my tough day at work we went for dinner at an La Spaggia, an Italian restaurant which was very good. Then it was a walk of the beach and back to the hotel for some TV and bed.
Tuesday
It was an early start today as Tracy, Harry and Toby came into work with Jeremy and I because they were off for a morning at the aquarium and wildlife park. Harry’s favourite animal of the morning was the manatee and Toby’s was the kangaroo. Even though both had spent their money they both managed to wangle a new cuddly toy each – opting for a kangaroo with a joey in its pouch. Toby called his roo Nigel, Harry called his Billy.
Their afternoon was again spent taking the tough decisions on here to spend the time – beach or pool, beach or pool. Not easy, I’m sure you will agree.
In the evening we walked up the hill towards South Coogee which is where Jeremy lives. He was cooking us an Aussie barbecue consisting of ribs, steak, roast potatoes and salad with a Golden Gay time ice-cream for dessert. We had been nervous about going round there after his spider stories earlier that day but we needn’t have worried as we didn’t encounter any tonight! The added bonus to the night is that Tracy got to see lots of planes as the airport and flight path wasn’t too far away.
The walk home would have involved walking past a cemetery late at night and Harry and Toby weren’t keen. They were so reluctant that they asked Jeremy if he could drive us home. Fortunately he took pity on them and did give us a lift back to the hotel where it was straight off to bed.
Wednesday
Today was another beach or pool dilemma day but little did they realise how exciting/traumatic the day would be! With the body board under their arm it was down to the beach for a morning of fun in the sea. the morning of fun turned out to be just 20 minutes because Harry emerged from the latest wave crying and with snot pouring from his nose (that’s Tracy’s description by the way). As legend goes, Harry had been stung by two blue bottles on his legs. Tracy took him up to the medical area at the back of the beach but there was no one there. After a trip to the hotel reception to get the correct medical advice (soak in hot water) it was up to the room for a hot bath which made everything better (along with Toby pulling funny faces to make him laugh). Just to make sure he was completely better he managed to persuade Tracy that chocolate would also help!
Once the trauma of it all had gone it was down to the hotel pool for an afternoon relaxing and recovering. In an effort to help persuade the boys to go back on the beach I bought a beach cricket set from the local sports shop – surely the lure of cricket would out weigh the fear of blue bottles!?
That evening we went to a lovely restaurant called Barzuka which was at the south end of Coogee beach. It was very busy but still had a little room for us so we tucked into a fabulous meal – one of the best of the holiday. The day ended with the usual routine of beach, TV and bed.
Thursday
The best post blue bottle sting activity? Shopping! And luckily for the three of them the shopping mall at Bondi Junction is the largest in the southern hemisphere (apparently). The morning was spent mooching around the shops and Harry and Toby both found a new pair of soccer boots they wanted. Neither of them need new boots however upon seeing the new shiny boots Harry revealed that his boots had been rubbing his feet for a while now and Toby’s were just too small! Funny that – there had been no mention of this until this point!
Afterwards a short cab ride back to Coogee it was back to the usual tough dilemma, beach or pool. Because Toby was still worried about Blue Bottles, it ended up being an afternoon at the pool which was probably the most sensible place to be.
That evening, dinner was at another Italian restaurant but although nice it wasn’t as good as the one earlier in the week. Ice-cream at Gelatissimo followed and then some playing on the beach until it got dark. Ten it was time for the usual bed time routine to kick in ahead of our last day in Sydney before venturing out of town on Saturday morning.